Rugby player detained in Nadi

AN overseas-based rugby player has been arrested and placed in isolation at Nadi Hospital after he had violated the 14-day self- quarantine required for every person disembarking from international flights.

In his press conference yesterday to announce Fiji’s five confirmed new cases of COVID-19, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said two players returning home broke compulsory quarantine.

“We also had two rugby players returning from overseas who broke compulsory quarantine after coming back to Fiji,” Bainimarama said.

“Like every other person disembarking from international flights, they were required to self-quarantine for 14 days. But they violated the directives, and put their loved ones –– and all of Fiji –– at risk.

Bainimarama said one of the two came in from Singapore and had a high-risk of exposure to the virus while overseas.

“After reports he was breaking quarantine, he was actually brought into the hospital in Sigatoka –– and then he bolted and disappeared, forcing our police officers to track him down.

“Unlucky for him, he couldn’t step his way past our Fiji Police Force.

“He’s been arrested, and he is now securely in isolation at Nadi Hospital.”

Bainimarama said rules only work when they are obeyed.

“No one is immune to COVID-19. Anyone can be infected.Anyone can be a carrier. If anyone disregards the rules and acts as if –– somehow –– they are beyond this reach of this virus, they’ll cost us Fijian lives,” he said.